This is the great Mystery of the Gospel; this is that which the Angels (as I tell you) pry into; nay, this is that which the Angels and Saints too shall admire, and bless God for, to all Eternity; this is that which set the infinite Wisdom of God on work from all Eternity. If all the Angels in Heaven, and all the Men in the World, had been put to it to find out a way to answer this question, how shall sin be pardoned, the sinner reconciled, and God glorify his justice? they could never have done it; this cost God dear, it cost him the heart-blood of his own Son, and that's a sure sign, that Gods heart was much in it; and indeed we are not Christians, until in some measure we see, and have our hearts taken with the glory of God in this mystery. O the wonder of Heaven and Earth! here's the case, man is fallen through sin, and ever since the fall, man and sin are as inseparably joined together as fire and heat; yet God will have mercy on the man, and he will take vengeance on the sin; the Eternal Wisdom of God, hath found out a way to translate this mans sins on another Person, who is able to bear them, and to interest this mans person in another's Righteousness, which is able to cover him; so that now all's one in regard of man, as if the Law had been utterly abrogated; and all's one too, in regard of God, as if the creature had been utterly condemned. And all this is done in our Jesus; on him was executed the curse of the Law, by him was fulfilled the righteousness of the Law, for him was remitted the sin of man, and through him were all things made new again: the world was in Christ as in its Surety, making satisfaction to the Justice of God; and God was in Christ as in his Ambassador,1 reconciling the world unto himself again. [Greek or Hebrew]: O the depths of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out? You have seen the Project, and the counsels of God for mans salvation, before all worlds,2 it is but dimly, for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his Counsellor?
This is the great Mistery of the Gospel; this is that which the Angels (as I tell you) pry into; nay, this is that which the Angels and Saints too shall admire, and bless God for, to all Eternity; this is that which set the infinit Wisdome of God on work from all Eternity. If all the Angels in Heaven, and all the Men in the World, had been put to it to find out a way to answer this question, how shall sin be pardoned, the sinner reconciled, and God glorify his justice? they could never have done it; this cost God dear, it cost him the heart-blood of his own Son, and that's a sure sign, that Gods heart was much in it; and indeed we are not Christians, until in some measure we see, and have our hearts taken with the glory of God in this mistery. O the wonder of Heaven and Earth! here's the case, man is fallen through sin, and ever since the fall, man and sin are as inseparably joyned together as fire and heat; yet God will have mercy on the man, and he will take vengeance on the sin; the Eternal Wisdome of God, hath found out a way to translate this mans sins on another Person, who is able to bear them, and to interest this mans person in anothers Righteousness, which is able to cover him; so that now all's one in regard of man, as if the Law had been utterly abrogated; and all's one too, in regard of God, as if the creature had been utterly condemned. And all this is done in our Jesus; on him was executed the curse of the Law, by him was fulfilled the righteousness of the Law, for him was remitted the sin of man, and through him were all things made new again: the world was in Christ as in its Surety, making satisfaction to the Justice of God; and God was in Christ as in his Embassadour,1 reconciling the world unto himself again. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: O the depths of the riches both of the Wisdome and Knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out? You have seen the Project, and the counsels of God for mans salvation, before all worlds,2 it is but dimly, for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his Counsellour?
- 1Rom. 11.33.
- 2Rom. 11.34.
